Elliott was born in John Day, Ore., and attended Chadron (Neb.) State University. He has, for the most part, stayed in Nebraska ever since with his wife, Cynthia, and twins, Ethan and Emma.

He won the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association gold buckle in 2004 and also saw success on the PBR and CBR tours. He also qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2005, 2006 and 2010.

“I’ve always told myself there will be a day I wake up and not want to ride anymore, and that day was April 10th,” Elliott wrote on a Facebook post Thursday morning. “I’ve thought about it for a month, and the drive just isn’t there like it used to be. I have other endeavors I’d like to embark on. I will stay involved in the sport in some way or another, and that door is open.”

Over the course of his career, I interviewed Elliott several times; he always was easy to talk to and offered anything I needed.

“My career was so much more than I ever expected as a kid from Oregon,” Elliott wrote. “I accomplished almost every goal I ever set.”